PS 3539 
.096 R3 
1901 
Copy 1 



JAN 24 1001 

A.NDOM FANCIES 
SONNETS AND 
TRANSLATIONS 



By James B. Townsend 



Random Fancies, 
Sonnets 

and 

Translations 

James B, Townsend 



3^ 




New York 

Cooke and Fry 

1901 



Library of Conqreas 

T>wo Copies Receivfd 
JAN 24\a01 

fc^ Copyright entry 

SECOND COPY 






Copyright, 1901, 
By COOKE AND FRY 



PRINTED 

BY 

COOKE & FRY 



To G. M. E. 

DOST Thou recall, O friend, that summer 
day 
The South wind and the ocean both at play, 
And one far sail, touched by the setting sun. 
Now here, nozv there; its course at random run? 

"E'en so our lives, how often led," I sighed, 
" Like yon far hark, the sport of wind and tide." 
Came Thy reply, '' Not always, for a mind 
Directs, if need there he, o'er wave, 'gainst wind." 

And yet to drift is pleasant, oh, my friend, 
When skies are fair — and so to you I send 
These fancies — written in the shade and sun 
Of days when thoughts their course at random 
run. 

Newport, R. L, 
August, 1885. 



" And brings the universal note of sadness in." 
— Matthew Arnold. 

O Wailing Sea! 
Wilt Thy complaining ne'er be o'er; 
Can'st Thou not tell of lands beyond 
Thy waters; 
Of Southern lands, upon whose golden shin- 
ing sands, 
Thy waves sing a glad monotone? 

Why on these Northern rocks alone; 
Dost Thou repeat a ceaseless moan; 
Why dost Thou wring Thy foam-white hands; 
O Wailing Sea? 

If sunlight oft from us has flown. 

Again it comes and is our own. 

We bind not men in iron bands, 

As in Thy loved and Southern lands, 

And Thou art free — Who binds Thee down? 

O Wailing Sea ! 

[ 7 ] 



€o ^t^. 2D* ^. €. 

(On her silver wedding-day with a small silver 
horseshoe. ) 
This little charm — which through all time, 
As told in story and sung in rhyme, 
Can from the door the witches drive, 
Who weird in form and dress, may strive 
The peace of home to break — 

I give to Thee this day of days. 

When wrapped in Memory's softening haze, 

The days of Youth return again, 

The warm sweet sunshine and the rain 

Of the swift-fleeting years. 

And as I muse, this charm to me 
Suggests another witchery 
Which through the quickly flying years, 
Has gained in laughter and in tears. 
The love of all around. 
The kindness shown, a fairy's wand. 
The tender heart, the generous hand, 
A spell more potent than of old. 
The witches grim did ever hold. 
Is Thine to-day we feel. 
[ 8 ] 



€f|e a^aib of Culture 

She is a highly cuhured maid, 
One of the famed Sorosis band, 
She does not let her roses fade 
In parlors gay or ball-rooms grand. 

She calls man's power a rope of sand 
And intellect's her stock in trade, 
vSlie is a highly cultured maid. 
One of the famed Sorosis band. 

But when she talks, this maiden grand. 
Of politics and savants staid, 
My thoughts will wander o'er the land, 
To Thee who can'st my heart best aid. 
And leave this highly cultured maid, 
One of the famed Sorosis band. 



[9 ] 



€riolet 

The daintiest of little rings, 
With my lady's seal upon it, 
The richest of money kings. 
This daintiest of little rings. 
Could not gain what to me it sings 
Or the sweet face under her bonnet, 
O daintiest of little rings. 
With my lady's seal upon it ! 



[ lo ] 



" With white sail spread my vessel Hies 
Far o'er the troubled sea." 

— Heine. 

O swaying sail ! 

How swiftly dost Thou send my bark, 

Through the wild waste of heaving, storm- 
tossed waters. 

Thy form on high is outlined 'gainst the 
night's dark sky, 

A sky as dark as are my days. 

And yet I love to see Thee raise 
And fall as the great Ocean plays, 
With me and mine, as on we fly, 
O swaying sail! 

What shines far East to my amaze. 
What see I through yon mist and haze; 
Is it the morning lights the sky. 
The morn that tells hope cannot die? 
It is — Now turns my wail to praise; 
O swaying sail! 

At Sea, 
August, 1889. 

[ II ] 



%mt^ for an %\xtcstapf^ 5llI6um 

Time was, when in primeval woods they say> 
Our fathers grinned and chattered, 
And from the boughs the livelong day. 
The cocoanuts down clattered. 

Grim apes they were — a gibbering crew, 
Yet Heaven which worketh wonders. 
Hath made us what we are, but left a few 
Though men, still apes — sad blunders. 

This is more clearly shown in naught, 
Than when in rhyme competing 
We strive for new ideas and thought, 
Yet old are e'er repeating. 



[ 12 ] 



<© SDaintp 25uti! 

^'Standing with reluctant feet 
Where the brook and river meet." 

O dainty bud! — The season comes, 
And through the waiting air there hums, 
The sound of laughter low and sweet, 
The merry trip of dancing feet 
O dainty bud ! 

What visions fill Thy laughing eyes; 
What wealth of wonder and surprise, 
" What is the world? " Thou questionest, 
O dainty bud ! 

Listen, and I will tell Thee, dear, 
A place where Thou may'st love but fear, 
A place where sunny days and bright 
Too soon are followed by the night. 
Too soon a rose, the blossom grows, 
O dainty bud ! 



[ 13 ] 



€1)0 f ir^t <£a^tet 2Daton 

Through the darkness sad and silent, 
Just before the hour of dawning, 
Angels twain were slowly flying, 
On that old time Easter morning. 

Over the whole land of Canaan, 
Brooded night — a night of sadness. 
But the angels watched expectant. 
For the morn — a morn of gladness. 

And the darkness slowly lightened. 
Gray, then red the sky was growing, 
Lo! against the bright horizon, 
Crosses three the light was showing. 

Burst the Sun from night's enfolding, 
Left behind his gloomy prison. 
Joyful sang the angels holy. 
Men rejoice — Christ, too, has risen. 



[ 14 ] 



€f)e a^otjcttt ^U Valentine 

The good old Saint whose day we keep, 
Lived in an age of story, 
When earth was young, and Heaven bright, 
And all things tinged with glory. 

Fair were the maidens of his time, 
Their praises still are ringing, 
And when their charms were often told, 
Full easy was the singing. 

And yet if he were now on earth, 
I think I know a maiden. 
By kindly Nature well-endowed. 
With charms so richly laden; 

That if the dear old Saint should try. 
Of her to make narration; 
His tongue would falter and he'd cease. 
Quite lost in admiration. 

And how shall I then weakly tell; 
What saints have failed in trying; 
Her life sincere, her faith so strong. 
Her friendship e'er undying. 
[ IS] 



My vows to her Fll quickly pay, 
To her I'll e'er be praying, 
My Patron saint — my Valentine 
My trust she's ne'er betraying. 



[ i6] 



€l)e I^our i^ Hate 

The hour is late — the fire burns low, 
*Tis time my musing ceased — I go, 
Upstairs to my sad lonely room. 
Made sadder by its cheerless gloom, 
The hour is late ! 

Ah Memory, Thou can'st recall. 
The time; that time when Thou wert all; 
To me — and whe» Thou softly said'st 
'' The hour is late. " 

It only meant — Love, for a time 
We two must part till Thou art mine, 
But now that hope alas is past; 
And I, as thronging years fly fast 
Alone must hear the bells soft chime, 
The hour is late ! 



[ 17 ] 



The season ended and the last night come 
The Singer went unto her lonely room, 
Still flushed with all the warm 
Applause and praise that had been hers, 
The evening through upon the concert stage — 
And musing on the evening's memories, 
And on the long, long months now hap'ly o'er 
The labor past — the rest so soon to come, 
Took up her songs — wlibse ev'ry word and 

note 
Had of herself become a part, 
** This one," she sighed, " I sang that eve. 
When Scotsmen wept o'er fair ' Loch Lo- 
mond ' 
And this—'' How still the house ! Oh ' Sands 

of Dee ' "— 
Then all the surging memories of the months, 
Swept o'er her like a flood across a meadow 

wide 
Or, like some wave that swiftly nears the shore 
Then sudden breaks, dissolved in soft white 
foam, 

[ i8 ] 



And bending down, she kissed the cold dead 

leaves, 
And happy tears, yet sad, her eyes did fill. 



O Singer fair! — Thy wondrous art made 

others feel, 
As thou didst — Feel the bitter sweet, 
Of sad home yearning and of tender memory. 
Not Thine alone the pleasure and the pain. 
With Thee we sailed " Loch Lomond." 
With Thee we saw the " cruel hungry foam " 
Roll o'er " sweet Mary " and the '' Sands of 

Dee." 

Thou hadst the power to make these real 
And so to move our careworn hearts 
With music from the " choir invisible," 
For 'twas Thy woman's heart that spake. 
And shone through all the music and the 
words. 

And yet of both the pictures on our minds 

engraved, 
The Singer fair — carolling her songs, 

[ 19 ] 



Before an audience stilled and hushed, 

The flashing light in her dark eyes, 

The silence — then the rapturous applause — 

And then the woman in her lonely room. 

Pressing the cold leaves and weeping soft 

Because of their sweet memories 

Of triumphs and of friends and scenes — 

I like the second best — for in its lines 

I see the woman's heart — its tenderness and 

depth, 
Its kinship with the masters of all time, 
And best of all — its human sympathy. 



O Singer fair ! — If o'er dark seas Thou fly, 

Our hearts fly with thee all the way. 

Unto Thy Enghsh home, and fond the hope 

We breathe — that soon again 

Thou'lt westward sail — Thou'lt cross the 

main. 
And once again our hearts thou'lt touch 
With fair " Loch Lomond " and the '' Sands 

of Dee." 

[ 20 ] 



€oujout^ a €oi! 

Toujours a Toi ! 

How softly sweet the words 

How sweetly soft the air 

Sung by the peerless tenor of his day 

That Christmas night 

That Christmas night 

When Thou wert there ! 

Toujours a Toi ! 

Forgotten were my cares 

The outer world forgot 

I closed my eyes to dream — to muse 

That Christmas night 

That Christmas night 

When Thou wert there ! 

Toujours a Toi ! 

What mattered the cold night 

The wintry winds, the leaden sky, 

Were we not both 'neath balmy summer 

skies 
That Christmas night 
That Christmas night 
When Thou wert there ! 

[21 ] 



Toujours a Toi ! 

Those words in Florence old 

Ne'er rang more tender true 

Than when this modern Romeo sang 

That Christmas night 

That Christmas night 

When thou wert there! 

Toujours a Toi ! 

What if we were apart 

What if Thou saw'st me not 

I felt my heart draw close, more close to 

Thine 
That Christmas night 
That Christmas night 
When Thou wert there ! 

Toujours a Toi ! 

O words of love and hope 

Of deathless hope and love 

What magic spell 

They wove around my heart 

That Christmas night 

That Christmas night 

When Thou wert there ! 

[22] 



Toujours a Toi ! 

O Juliet fair and sweet 

These words were sung to Thee 

But to a fairer Juliet sang my heart 

That Christmas night 

That Christmas night 

When Thou wert there ! 

Toujours a Toi ! 

Can I forget that night 

Can I forget the spell 

Which Love and Life and Song and 

Fancy wove 
That Christmas night 
That Christmas night 
When Thou wert there ! 

Toujours a Toi ! 
Yes while my life shall last 
These words my heart will stir 
With thoughts of Thee and of that Christ- 
mas night 
Toujours a Toi ! 

[ 23 ] 



I 

When comes the Sun in gladness, 
Past is the night of sadness, 
Its rays do all renew, 
Piercing the Heaven's blue. 

So when Thy love is told me, 
Its bliss doth still enfold me. 
The night of sorrow flying. 
Gives place to Hope undying. 

II 

My heart with Thee itself adorns. 

As Heaven with the sun, 

Thou giv'st it glory and it mourns Thee 

gone 
And lives in darkness on. 

So are the glories of the Earth, 
Veiled in the drear dark night. 
But when the sun shines out in mirth 
Its beauties come to light. 

[ 24] 



Ill 

Whenever in Thy brown eyes I gaze, 
But love and rest I see, 
And she I love with all my heart 
My dearest heart is Thee. 

Then forever must I love Thee, 
Thine image to me is so dear 
And more than blessed I always feel 
When Thou, dear heart, art near. 



[ 25 ] 



I 

A gray wan day — a stretch of lonely sand, 
Whereon the foaming surf doth ever roar, 
Some far-ofif sails that glide so swift ofT-shore, 
Into the distance dim — A moaning wind, 
That sings of woe and grief and lands unkind, 
Telling of summer gone; its glories o'er 
As if the winter's dreary gloom it bore — 
But sunset comes and glorifies the land. 
So to the human heart comes oft a day, 
Its summer gone, its joyous sunshine bright, 
Of hope seems withered and its faith seems 

dead. 
Gloomy its morning and its noon more gray. 
But when its hours have slowly crept away, 
It joys, for " Lo at evening there is light ! " 
Far Rock a way, L. I., 
October 9, 1881. 

II 

The summer heat broods over land and sea, 
The sun beats down from out an azure sky, 
Men falter in their steps and faltering, die. 

[ 26] 



The black-robed night brings no relief, 

No solace to the human wail of grief; 

At morn and eve the clouds sail mocking by, 

To cries for rain they vouchsafe no reply, 

The skies unpitying hear not men's sore plea. 

Was it for this, great Julius — that they gave. 

Thy name to this fierce noon of summer-tide, 

Placing thy majesty the sun beside. 

Who rulest now supreme o'er land and wave, 

And turneth not to pity or to save; 

E'en as Thou ruled Rome's wondrous Empire 

wide? 

New York, 
July, 1883. 

Ill 

I hold that hour apart in all the days. 
Which passed so swiftly in that distant isle; 
When leaving the great city's heat a while, 
We sought alike a change of scene and rest. 
Rest from our ceaseless toil and endless quest. 
The sunset glow had come, — the lofty pile. 
Of gray, grim rocks grew soft in day's last 

smile. 
And eastward far, the waves seemed all ablaze. 

[27 ] 



Only the foaming surf; the sullen roar, 

Of breakers when the iron-bound cliffs they 

met, 
Broke silence as they dashed in moan and fret. 
Then spake you as you never spake before, 
You called me " friend," and so forever more, 
That hour above all hours and days is set. 
Otter Cliffs, Mt. Desert, August 22, 1881. 

IV 

We read the world-famed Idylls of the King; 
Of Arthur, Enid, Launcelot, Guinevere, 
Of Vivian, Merlin and Elaine the fair, 
Those whom the Laureate in his verse doth 

sing. 
As one who strikes a harp with silver string; 
And when the book falls from us, and the air, 
Seems peopled with their phantoms, rich and 

rare, 
Which to our hearts does the most closely 

cling? 
Elaine the fair we love, but Enid more, 
Enid the child wife, who when duty cried, 
E'en though her love was then so sorely tried, 

[ 28] 



Ne'er faltered when Geraint such hard tasks 

set, 
But uncomplaining pain and danger met 
Such woman's faith the world ne'er saw before. 
New York^ April 29, 1882. 

V 

Joyful is winter — I can cheerful see, 
Rivers all ice, and snowy-covered plains, 
Bare forests, wind that e'er complains, 
The angry, gray and tossing sea. 
What does the wild strange scene e'er tell to 

me? 
How unsubdued is still the human mind, 
Untouched by leaden skies, or winter wind, 
Sweet sounds of mirth I hear and shouts of 

glee. 
Joyful is winter, ever feed the blazing fire, 
Let jest and laugh unchecked go round, 
The tales ne'er old of romance and of glory, 
The songs that echo with so sweet a sound. 
The heroes, scenes and days of ancient story, 
Until the last faint, glowing sparks expire. 
Staten Island, January 26, 1880. 

[ 29 ] 



VI 

TO ELLEN TERRY AS ''BEATRICE" 

"But then {that night), there was a star danced, 

and under it I was born." 
— Much Ado About Nothing, Act I, Scene 2. 

Which was it of the whirling orbs of might 
That danced, sweet Ellen, on thy natal eve? 
What radiant planet may we now believe 
In its celestial place did so rejoice — 
Moved to the dulcet music of thy voice — 
And well content its fellows fair to leave 
That it thy special favor might receive 
And guide thee through this mazy world 

aright? 
Was it not Venus, handmaid of the Night, 
That lit so fair a Beatrice to this sphere? 
A Beatrice who to us has grown as dear 
As e'er she was to Benedict — poor wight — 
Whose mirth, whose grace, whose beauty, like 

the Hght 
Of evening's star, shines kindlier year by year I 

[ 30 ] 



VII 

ARTS HENDRICK HUDSON 

Long centuries past, the old Dutch sailor 

furled, 
The white wings of his daring shallop, worn 
By sea and storm; and saw the golden morn. 
Parting the night's dark curtain, swift unveil, 
A wide expanse of shore, and hill and dale, 
As yet untrod by man, in wildness free, 
Uncultured and untamed, but yet to be. 
In glorious garments drest, a new-born world. 
The Hendrick Hudson of the world of Art. 
Bartholdi — when Thine eyes did look upon. 
Our bay, in this a freeman's land, so won. 
Through blood and fire to nobler freedom far 
Than in the past — rejoiced Thy patriot's 

heart, 
And Liberty's great statue lit her glowing star. 

New York, 
June 19, 1885. 



[ 31 ] 



VIII 

''SAM'' WARD 

{Died at Pegli, Italy, May, 1884) 

O famed disciple of our modern days 
Of him whose old-world teaching never dies, 
But still grows fresher as each century flies; 
The final summons comes to thee at last, 
And now Thy wanderings long since past. 
Thou restest 'neath those blue Italian skies 
Which ever in Thy life Thou did'st so prize 
And even Stoics come to sing Thy praise. 
Thine was a life men pause to contemplate. 
So strangely passed — so mingled with the 

time. 
And yet so far apart — In prose and rhyme, 
Thy story will be told — The Prince of Sybar- 
ites, 
Thy days with feasting filled; with song Thy 

nights, 
With frailty touched — yet in Thine own way — 
Great. 

[ 32 ] 



IX 

VICTOR HUGO 
(Died May 22, 1883) 

Victor Thou truly wast in more than name, 
O warrior gone! Thy foes where are they 

fled? 
Now when the world in sorrow mourns Thee 

dead, 
Chanting Thy praise; and Thy unsullied fame, 
Shines clearer for the storms that o'er Thee 

sped. 
And which Thy will, Thy power well van- 
quished; 
So that of Thee with truth it may be said, 
He conquered fate, he ruled where'er he came. 
O rugged form ! that so well fought the blows 
Of Envy — Literature's Napoleon. 
By Thy long exile on that island home 
How many souls were strengthened to go on 
And war for Freedom? Not in clouds doth 

close. 
Thy life's long dav, but glorious sets Thy sun. 

' [ 33 ] 



X 

GEORGE B. McCLELLAN 

{Died at Orange, N. J., October 29, 1885) 

Thou'st met another foeman, soldier gone, 
A foeman who has struck Thee sadly low, 
Not in the roar of battle did his blow, 
Meet Thy undaunted front, nor in the chill, 
Of Southern swamps, when clear and still. 
The peaceful Moon smiled on a land of woe 
In those dread anxious years of long ago. 
When patriots saw their land asunder torn. 
And now we gather round Thy black-robed 

bier. 
And sing Thy praise. Forgotten all we cry 
Of calumny's detraction; envy's flings — and 

high 
We write Thy name upon the roll of those. 
Who warded off Secession's vigorous blows, 
And '' Little Mac " a land united holds most 

dear. 



[34 ] 



XI 

TO JEAN DE RESZKE AS LOHENGRIN 

Forgotten were the wintry winds and rain, 
When in the Opera House I sat to-night, 
Where all was wealth, and warmth, and glow- 
ing light. 
And heard once more the sweet and moving 

strain. 
In which the wondrous tale brings back again, 
Through centuries, which have passed in airy 

flight, 
The days of chivalry and honor bright 
When Elsa sought to hold her love in vain. 
Was Lohengrin of old a braver knight. 
Than Thou did'st seem, De Reszke? — Silence 

fell 
On all that audience vast — when like a bell 
Clear toned, rang out " Mein lieber Schwan" — 

Who might 
Not weep with Elsa, when in glittering white 
Thou saidst thy sad, thy sweet, thy last fare- 
well? 
Metropolitan Opera House, January, 1895. 

[ 35 ] 



XII 

TO CALVE AS CARMEN 

Gone are the wintry skies, the chilling rain 
Gone all the rigors of our Northern night 
And here in this great house — ablaze with 

light 
Above us bend the azure skies of Spain, 
Around us breathe the perfumed airs again 
And to our longing eyes expectant sight 
Amid the thronging crowd in costume bright 
Gay Carmen pauses in her airy train. 
Calve — 'Tis Thou who play'st the maid 

aright — 
A careless wanton — yet still loved the more 
By Toreador and Don Jose — Strange — for 
A Southern butterfly Thou art — A sprite — 
And yet thou being blent of love and spite 
Calve — with Don Jose — we Thee adore. 

Metropolitan Opera House, 
January, 1894. 



[ 36 ] 



XIII 

TO E. M. G. 

Even, as when in days that are no more, 
Unto their ladies fair, brave knights did bring, 
Gay trophies of their frays and roystering; 
Enough repaid, if eyes the brighter shone. 
Nor recked, if such their lot, the trial done; 
In such a way I now of Thee would sing 
Ever of Thee, and all I have would bring 
My dearest Love to Thee, whom I adore. 
Give me as now Thy love from Heaven sent, 
In joy or sorrow be my lady fair 
Beyond all others let me do and dare. 
Ever for Thee in life's great tournament 
Relying on my heart, for Thee intent 
Trusting my love, if skies be dark or fair. 



[ 37 ] 



Selections from Heine's " Buck der 

LlEDER " 

I 

" Im wunderschonen monat Mai." 

When all the little buds peeped out, 
That wondrous clear May morning, 
Oh in my heart, without a doubt, 
First love then had its dawning. 

When all the birds sang in the grove, 
In May's bright month returning. 
Oh then to her I told my love, 
My longing and my yearning. 

II 

" Ein felsenbaum steht einsam." 

Lonely a Pine tree grand, 

Decked round with ice and snow 

On cold and northern heights did stand. 

He slept and dreamed and lo ! 

[ 38 ] 



A Palm's tall image bright, 

Into his dreams was borne 

That far, far South on sun-scorched height 

Lonely and sad did mourn. 

Ill 

" Du hist wie eine blume/* 

Thou art so like a flower, my love. 
So sweet and true as Heaven above, 
Whene'er I gaze on Thee great sadness 
Drives from my heart all mirth and gladness. 

I feel as if I ought to lay 
My hands upon Thy head and say, 
God keep Thee and preserve Thee pure. 
So sweet, so true for aye endure. 

IV 

'' Du schones Hschermadchen." 

Thou beauteous Fishermaiden, 
Come row Thy boat to land. 
And sitting here together. 
We'll chat thus hand in hand. 
[ 39 1 



My heart Thy head shall pillow, 
And have no fear of me, 
For well Thou trustest daily, 
The wild and treacherous sea. 

My heart is like the ocean. 
Hath storm and ebb and flow, 
And many a pearl of beauty 
Rests in its depths below. 



V 

Die Welt ist blind, die Welt ist dumm" 

The world is blind, the world's a fool, 
Grows daily more so truly; 
It speaks of you in accents cool, 
Of you, my love — unduly. 

The world's a fool, the world's so slow, 
And always will misjudge Thee, 
Thy kisses sweet it does not know. 
Nor how they burn within me. 



[40] 



VI 

" Wenn zwei an einander scheiden.'^ 

When comes to friends sad parting, 
Hands are so tightly clasped, 
With pain and sorrow smarting 
Come sighs, and tears fall fast. 

We did not weep in sorrow. 
We sighed not " ah " so loud 
Twas on the sad, sad morrow. 
We sighed, our tears fast flowed. 

VII 

" Leise zieht durch mein gemuth/' 

Lightly through my spirit floats, 
LoveHest of singing, 
Sound O Spring, Thy sweetest notes 
Through the wide world ringing. 

Sound unto that very place. 
Where the buds are springing. 
Shout where blooms a Rose's face, 
" Greetings I am bringing." 

[ 41 ] 



VIII 

''Die Jahre kommen und gehen." 

Fast comes and goes each fleeting year, 
Men to the grave descend, 
But my heart's love for Thee, my dear, 
Will never come to an end. 

That I but once might see Thee, dear. 
And sinking on my knee, 
Might dying whisper to Thee clear, 
*' Madame — I love but Thee." 



IX 



'*" Ich grolle nicht, und zvenn mein herz auch 
hricht:' 

I murmur not, and if my sad heart breaks. 

With hopeless love, I murmur not; 

In princely splendor when Thou shin'st so 

bright, 
There falls no light in Thy heart's darkest 

night. 

[ 42 ] 



That I knew long, I saw it in my dreams, 
I saw the gloom of night in Thy dear heart, 
The grief which gnaweth at Thy heart, so true, 
Thy pain and sorrow, O my dearest love, I 
knew. 



X 

" Lehn deine Wang, an meine Wang." 

rest Thy cheek against my own, 
Our tears together flowing. 

And to my heart, draw near Thy heart. 
Their flames together glowing. 

And when in that soft flame there flows. 
The stream of tears so burning. 
And when mine arms surround Thee 
close, 

1 die with love and yearning. 



[ 43 ] 



XI 

" Wir fuhren allein im dunkeln/^ 

Alone in the wagon we journeyed, 
The whole of that long night, 
Our hearts beat softly together. 
With laughter the way seemed bright. 

But when came the dawn of morning, 
My child — astonished were we 
For between us Love had rested 
A passenger blind was he. 

XII 

" Vergiftet sind meine lieder." 

Oh poisoned are my verses; 
How could it different be? 
Thou hast the poison lightly tossed 
Into my life's rough sea. 

Yes, poisoned are my verses; 
Why should it different be? 
I bear in my heart so many woes. 
And then Beloved, Thee. 

[44] 



XIII 

" Allnachtlich im traume seh' ich dich." 

All night in my dreams I saw Thee, 
And friendly Thou didst me greet, 
And crying aloud, I hastened fast. 
Unto Thy dearest feet. 

Thou looked on me so tenderly 
And shook Thy golden curls, 
And from Thine eyes dropped ever, 
The tear-drops clear as pearls. 

Thou spake to me kindly a little word, 
And gave me a cypress spray tender; 
I woke, and lo the spray is gone, 
And the word I cannot remember. 

XIV 

'' Es liegt der heisse Sommer." 

The glowing Summer's resting 
Upon Thy cheeks, my dear, 
But in Thy heart cold Winter 
Sits, ever grim and drear. 

[ 45 ] 



With Thee oh were it different 
Thou loved one, e'en with Thee, 
Winter upon Thy cheeks should rest 
Summer in Thy heart free. 

XV 

"Mir traumte; traurig schaute der Mond/* 

I dreamed that sadly shone the Moon, 
The stars shone out sadly and drear, 
Their light led me where my loved one dwelt,. 
Many hundred miles from here. 

It led me unto her very door; 

I kissed the cold stones and I wept. 

For these very stones her feet had pressed 

And the train of her dress had swept. 

The night was long, the night was cold. 
Cold were the stones where reclining, 
I saw a pale form from the window lean^ 
All white in the Moon's sad shining. 

[ 46 ] 



XVI 

" Wie Kannst Du ruhig schlafen." 

How can Thou peaceful sleep and know, 
I still live for Thy sake, 
The old pain comes again to me, 
And then I silence break. 

Know'st Thou the old sad story, 
How once a boy, long dead, 
One midnight still his loved one, 
Brought to his cold grave bed. 

Trust me, Thou wondrous beautiful, 
Thou wondrous lovely one, 
I live, and still am stronger, 
Than all those dead and gone. 

XVH 

"" Wer ziim ersten male leiht." 

He who for the first time loves, 
And happy is — a God may rule, 
But he who loves the second time 
And happy is — I call a fool. 
[47 ] 



And I, alas, am such a fool 
I love, and none in love reply; 
Sun, moon and stars derisive laugh, 
I laugh with them and then — I die. 

XVIII 

" And' re heten zur Madonne." 

Oh, one to Mary Mother prays, 
Another to Peter and Paul, 
But I will always only pray. 
To Thee dear, the sun of them all. 

Give me Thy kisses, give me Thy love, 
Be good and gracious dear one. 
Brightest sun among the maidens, 
Dearest maiden under the sun. 

XIX 

" Nacht liegt an dem fremden We gen" 

Night falls on the roads so dreary, 
Tired hearts and bodies weary; 
Ah how flows like blessings tender, 
Dearest moon, Thv light of splendor! 

[48 ] 



Sweetest moon, Thy soft beams stealing, 
All my griefs how soon are healing. 
All my woes and sorrows stilling, 
Lo, mine eyes with tears are filling! 

XX 

" Der Tod, Das ist die kiihle nacht." 

Oh Death, it is the cool dark night 
But Life, day's glowing ray; 
It darkens fast and soon I sleep. 
Made weary by the day. 

In the tall tree above my bed, 
The nightingale sings clear; 
She sings so loud of life and love, 
E'en dreaming her song I hear. 

XXI 

'' Erwachend, frag Ich jeden morgen." 

I woke and asked then every morn, 
'* Comes my dear love to-day? " 
At evening sank I to rest forlorn 
And she never came my way. 
[ 49 ] 



Then with my sorrow in the night, 
How sleepless awake I lay, 
Then dreaming in my slumber light 
Of how I wandered by day. 

XXII 

Oh into the sea there juts a rock, 
There lay I idly dreaming. 
The winds they whistled, the waters rolled, 
The seabirds were wildly screaming. 

Oh many a comrade bold have I loved. 

And many a beauteous daughter, 

Where are they now? — Loud whistled the 

wind 
And sobbed the foam-laden water. 

XXIII 

" Ich stand in dunkeln traunien und starrte Ihr 
bildniss an" 

Upon Thy picture gazing. 
Sadly in dreams I stood, 
And Thy beloved portrait 
I looked at in loving mood. 

[ 50 ] 



A smile so full of sweetness, 
Thy dearest lips did rule, 
And with soft tears of sorrow 
Thy sweetest eyes were full. 

And my tears also were flowing, 
Were flowing so crystal clear. 
And, ah, I cannot believe it. 
That I have lost Thee, dear ! 

XXIV 

" Sie hahen heuf Abend gesellschaft." 

Friends come to see Thee to-day, 
And Thy house is filled with light, 
But here outside the bright window. 
Is swaying an image white. 

Thou see'st me not — in darkness. 

Stand I here silent alone. 

And only a little Thou canst see 

Into my heart, mine own. 

My saddened heart it loves Thee 

It loves Thee, and I wot. 

For Thee it breaks, it bleedeth. 

But ah Thou see'st it not. 

[ 51 ] 



XXV 

'''Saphire sind die Augen dein." 

Thine eyes are sapphires, oh my love, 
Their sweetness is not fleeting, 
O thrice, thrice happy is the man. 
Whom they with love are greeting. 

A diamond is Thy heart, my love, 
Which noble Hght is throwing, 
O thrice, thrice happy is the man. 
For whom with love it's glowing. 

Thy lips are rubies, oh my love. 
Their praises e'er are ringing, 
O thrice, thrice happy is the man 
For whom sweet love they're singing. 

Would that I knew that happy man, 
Were he and I but meeting 
In the dark depth of a green wood, 
His luck would soon be fleeting. 



[52 ] 



XXVI 

" Mein' lieh chen, wir sassen heisammen." 

My love and I sat together 
Sadly in our light boat, 
Still was the night as we journeyed 
And on the wide river did float. 

The beautiful ghostly islands, 
Shimmered in moonlight bright. 
We heard the sound of sweet singing, 
And then came the night mist so white. 

The song grew sweeter and sweeter. 
We heard it now there, now here, 
But still we sailed onward forever 
Over the wide gray mere. 

XXVII 

Die heiVge drei Kon'ge aus Morgenland." 

Three holy kings from out the East, 
Were riding through ev'ry land, 
Asking the way to Bethlehem 
From the children on either hand. 
[ 53 ] 



Both young and old they knew it not, 
But the kings rode onward Hghtly 
For a gleaming star before them went, 
And shone out clearly and brightly; 

The star stood still o'er Joseph's house; 
They entered softly and slowly, 
The oxen lowed, the Christ Child cried 
Then loud sang the three kings holy. 



XXVIII 

'" Ich hab' im Traum gezveinet." 

Sorely I wept in my dream. 

For I dreamed Thou laid'st in the grave. 

I woke, and lo, a stream 

Of tears my cheeks did lave. 

Sorely I wept in my dream 
For I dream.ed, Thou had'st me forgot 
I woke and still a stream, 
Of tears flowed fast and hot. 
[ 54] 



Sorely I wept in my dream 
For I dreamed, Thou wert true to me. 
I woke, and yet flowed the stream 
Of tears, oh bitterly. 



XXIX 

" Mir traumte wieder der alte traum/ 

The old dream came again to me, 
It was a night in May, 
We sat beneath the linden-tree 
And pledged our troth for aye. 

Our vows we did again renew, 
We chatted, laughed and kissed 
That I to our oath might be true. 
You bit my hand in jest. 

O loved one with the eyes so clear. 
Thou fair and laughing sprite 
The vowing was by rule my dear, 
No need was there to bite. 

[ 55 ] 



XXX 

With white sail spread my vessel flies, 
Far o'er the troubled sea, 
Thou knowest I am sick at heart 
And still Thou grievest me. 

Thy heart is faithless as the wind, 
That ever will be free, 
With white sail spread, my vessel flies. 
Far o'er the troubled sea. 



XXXI 

''Das ist ein brausen und Heulen" 

There is a roaring and rushing, 
Of wind in the rainy night wild, 
Why art Thou wailing and weeping. 
My poor, sad and lonely child? 

I see her lean from the window. 
That looks from her darkened room. 
Her eyes with tears are filling. 
As she peers in the night of gloom. 

[ 56 ] 



XXXII 

"Das Meer erglanste weit hinaus." 

The sea was glowing far and wide, 
In day's last golden fading; 
We sat by the lone fisher's house 
Silent — with sorrow laden. 

The night mist rose, the ocean sobbed, 
The gulls flew shrilly calling, 
And from Thine eyes, so filled with love 
The tears were slowly falling. 

Upon Thy hand I saw them fall, 

And on my knee swift sinking, 

From those soft, white and tender hands. 

The tears I then was drinking. 

My love has gone these many days. 
My soul will die of yearning. 
And me that sad unhappy girl 
Poisoned with tears so burning. 



[ 57 ] 



XXXIII 

This morn Thou little darling, 

This morn as I passed before 

Thy window bright — Oh then I joyed, 

Thy loved form I saw. 

Thou gazest on me so wond'ring, 
With eyes of darkest brown, 
" Who art Thou and what ails Thee, 
Thou sad, strange wand'ring clown? " 

I am a German poet dear 
Well known in field and town, 
Those who great names are knowing, 
Know mine and its renown. 

And what I suffer dearest, 
Do many in this great land. 
Those who keen pain are feeling, 
Know I am of their band. 



[ 58 ] 



XXXIV 

On the quivering ocean, 
Wavers the image bright, 
Of the Moon, whose motion, 
Through Heaven's vault in Hght, 
Is still and true, yet tender 
Its radiance and its splendor. 

So still and true my own, 
Thou ever art my light. 
In Thy sad heart alone. 
Wavers Thine image bright. 
How can a troubled breast 
Reflect an image blest? 



XXXV 

" Am fernen horisonte" 

Far off on the distant horizon. 
Glimmers the towered town. 
Like a cloudland picture fading. 
As the evening mist comes down. 

[ 59] 



A moist damp wind blows softly, 
Ruffling the waters gray, 
With sad, measured strokes, the oarsman 
Sends my boat upon her way. 

The sun for a moment shines brightly, 
Illumined is the sky, 
I see the place where my darling. 
Was lost in the days gone by. 

XXXVI 

"" Es stehen unbeweglich." 

The stars in Heaven are standing, 
Silent for countless days, 
Gazing on one another. 
With love's yearning, they gaze. 

A language they speak together. 
Which is so strange and grand, 
That none of earth's philosophers, 
Can that speech understand. 

But I have learned it truly. 
Its use I shall ne'er forget, 
For the face of my own loved one 
As grammar will serve me yet. 

[60 ] 



XXXVII 

"Die Rose, die Lillie, die Taube, die Sonne/* 

When love's delight had first begun, 
I loved the Lily, Rose, Dove and Sun. 
I love them no more — But one love I now, 
The sweetest, the purest — one only I vow, 
For she the source of all true love, 
Is Rose and Lily and Sun and Dove. 

XXXVIII 

Once in my dreams I saw Thee, 
Thy face like angels bright. 
So sweet, and yet so pale and worn. 
And white with pain, so white. 

Thy lips, ah they were reddened. 
But Death soon kissed them white 
And in those eyes whence once it broke, 
Quenched was the heavenly light. 



[6i ] 



XXXIX 

The lily shall sweetly sing me, 
In her silv'ry tinkling- tone, 
When I dip my soul in her bosom, 
A song of my love, mine own. 

That song shall tremble and quiver 
As once in an hour so dear. 
The kiss from her lips she gave me, 
Did tremble as if with fear. 



XL 

" Es fallt ein stern vom Himmel/' 

A star has fallen downward. 
From the glitt'ring Heaven bright, 
It is the dearest star of love. 
Which falling, met my sight. 

And from the gnarled old apple-tree 
Blossoms and buds fast fall, 
A biting wind blows loud and free, 
And takes its sport with all. 

[ 62 ] 



The swan sings in the meadow, 
Then sails off on the wave. 
And ever sweeter singing, 
Sails to his watery grave. 

Darkness and silence follow, 
The buds and the blossoms are gone. 
The star-light is quenched forever. 
Hushed is the song of the swan. 

XLI 
^' Mein Kind — wir war en Kinder" 

My child — we also were children. 
Two children once on a day, 
We crowed in the empty hen-house 
And hid ourselves under the hay. 

We cackled just as the hens do 
And when the people went by 
" Kikerikoo " — they surely thought 
It was the chickens' shrill cry. 

The old chests in the court-yard 
With carpets we covered o'er, 
And then we dwelt there together 
What house could we wish for more? 

[ 63 ] 



Our neighbor's gray old pet cat 
From curiosity often came, 
We made her many curtsies 
And compliments the same. 

After her health we kindly asked 
And for her children ten, 
We've asked the self-same question, 
From many old cats since then. 

We often sat in sober chat, 

As we saw our elders do 

And discussed how all was better 

In the years we had passed through. 

How love and faith and truthfulness 
Had vanished into the air, 
And oh how dear all coffee was, 
And money oh how rare ! 



Past are the sports of childhood, 
And all alas rolls by, 
Money, the world, yea Time itself. 
Truth, trust and love all die. 

[64] 



XLII 

" JVir sassen am Fischerhause" 

By the Fisher's hut we sat that night. 
And gazed on the wide gray sea, 
The evening mist came rising fast 
And floating far and free. 

In the light-house the glowing lanterns 
Were Hghted one by one, 
And far in the dim distance 
A ship sailed slowly on. 

Our talk was of storm and shipwreck, 
Of the sailor and his wild life, 
How ever 'tween Earth and Heaven, 
His days with peril are rife. 

Of distant countries we chatted, 
Of the southern and northern coast, 
Of the strange wild people found there 
And their stranger customs most. 

Of the Ganges when twilight darkens, 
And the beauteous rice-trees bloom, 
And of that dreamy fabled race, 
Who bow to the Lotus' perfume. 

[ 65 ] 



Small are the people of Lapland, 
Broad headed, wide mouthed and grim, 
Round their oil fires they crouch when 

cooking 
Their fish with chatter and din. 

And the maidens they listened attentive 
Till the last one his story had told. 
In the night the ship had long vanished. 
The darkness us too did enfold. 

XLIII 

Spring's bright blue eyes peep out, 

From all the grass about, 

Gentle and tender 

Violets sweet and fair. 

And a bouquet rare 

I pick and send her. 

Yes as I pick in thought 
All that my love hath taught 
My heart's dear sighing. 
The Nightingale sings strong 
And in the woods her song. 
Is echoed dying. 

[ 66] 



Hark all I dream she sings, 
And loud the warbling rings, 
O'er land and ocean, 
The whole world will know, 
The dearest secret now, 
My heart's devotion. 



XLIV 

" Sie liebten die heide, dock keiner" 

They loved so well, yet neither 
Would have the other know. 
They were not friends — yet either 
With love's sweet fire did glow. 

They parted soon and never met 
Save in the dear dreamland. 
At last they died and even yet 
They do not understand. 



[ 67] 



XLV 

What Thy proud cold lips are saying 
Never think I maiden mine, 
In such dark brown eyes as Thou hast, 
Virtue does not always shine. 

Strip from off Thee all deceiving, 
For I love Thee — Love Thee so 
Let me kiss Thy heart's pure whiteness 
Wilt Thou then my heart not know? 



XLVI 

Now with all its gloomy shadows. 
Evil Night comes creeping fast, 
And our souls — they too grow weary 
As we see of day the last. 

Thou art old and I am older, 
Long since faded Spring once dear, 
Thou art cold, and I am colder 
As the Winter now draws near. 
[ 68 ] 



Ah, the ending brings such sadness 
After Love's sweet need and strife 
Then without Love, needs come ever 
And death follows after life. 



XLVII 

Thy dearest eyes I cover close 
When on the lips I kiss Thee 
Thou wilt not let me rest in peace 
The reason why — Thou ask'st me. 

From evening late till early morn 
Yes — every hour thou ask'st me, 
" Why do I close Thy dearest eyes 
When on the lips I kiss Thee? " 

And why I do I tell Thee not 
I know not what impels me. 
Thy dearest eyes I cover close, 
When on the lips I kiss Thee. 



[ 69 ] 



XLVIII 

Dismiss me not, if to the dregs, 
Love's sweetest draught Thou'st tasted 
O give me but three months and then 
My love will too be wasted. 

If Thou can'st no more be my Love, 
For friendship then I'll ask Thee 
When one has reached the end of love 
A friendship then begins he. 



[ 70 ] 



from fenoton anti anfenotDtt aBerrman 

A MOONLIGHT NIGHT 

(Eichendorff) 

No sound was there of mirth, 
The night was cold, 
When Heaven kissed the earth 
As in her dreams she told, 
Wrapped in her tranquil rest, 
Of Paradise the blest. 

The low sweet joyous sound, 
Went through the land. 
Rushed o'er the grass around. 
And through the forest grand 
Nor was there need of light 
So beamed the stars that night. 

My winged soul took flight. 
Gazing above. 

Here were all transient things. 
There endless peace and love. 
Then homeward swift she turned, 
The Earth behind her spurned. 

[ 71 ] 



SPRING SONG 

(Geibel) 

Far in a green and wooded dell 
Where the old, old maples stand 
Rustles, shall I truly tell? 
Gentle whispers low but grand, . 
Oh sounds most sweet. 
What songs you sing 
What tales you bring 
Of summer's coming fleet ! 

Every leaflet sings in praise, 
Of the leaf its neighbor. 
All breathe deep in their own ways 
Gay and free from labor. 
Breathe the holy air of peace, 
Perfume ne'er was rarer 
Nor a spring-day fairer 
E'en in storied Greece. 

Buds and leaves on every bough 
Sway and toss in splendor, 
Upward soars my soul till now 
Oh so weak and tender. 

[ 72 ] 



Summer's sun brings lasting balm, 
Gone is Winter's biting blast, 
Rain is now all overpast, 
Following storm; the calm. 



THE BROKEN RING 
(Eichendorff) 

In a cool and shaded dell. 
There ever turns the mill. 
But in the spot she loved so well 
The voice of my love is still. 

We vowed our troth so truly. 
She pledged it with a ring, 
That troth she broke unduly 
The ring apart did spring. 

I can as a minstrel go. 
Far through the world so wide 
And sing my songs so sweet and low 
From house to house beside. 

[73 ] 



I can a wild charger ride 
Into the battle's roar, 
Or lie the camp fire still beside 
Till morning dawns once more. 

The turning wheel I hear, 
I know not what I pray, 
I can but die for one so dear. 
Then stops the wheel for aye. 

JOY AND SORROW 
(Marie Foster) 

In silence must I sorrow bear, 
Deep in my heart must sink it 
For it alone is all my care, 
And none but God doth feel it. 
And if my sad heart breaks, ah well 
My sorrow can I never tell. 

But oh how different with joy 
In every ear I tell it 
Its pleasures other hearts employ, 
And mine also doth share it. 
It soon becomes a tale well known. 
Why should I not my joy then own? 
[ 74 ] 



EVENING 

(Ruckert) 

The twittering swallow is joyfully swinging, 
Upon his roof perch now almost in gloom, 
Holy peace upon meadow and city is resting 
Holy peace in my house, and in my sad room. 

A faint light falls from the red West so glow - 

ing, 
Lightly it falls on the silent street. 
And before I sleep comes the joyful tidings, 
A morning of splendor Thou can'st greet. 

THE LITTLE STAR 

Tell me Thou little star 
Why shinest Thou so clearly. 
Thou can'st from Heaven above 
BHnk down at me so dearly? 

Go seek in Heaven Thy love. 
And cease, ah cease from blinking. 
My love's on earth and not above, 
She's fairer than Thine — I'm thinking. 

[ 75 ] 



LOVE SONG 

The world's noise rings so loud, 
I hear it never 
But only what Thou say'st 
I hear forever. 

Mankind doth gaze on me 
No thought them giving' 
I have them all forgot 
For Thee I'm living. 

I give up all to Thee, 
I'm poor and lonely, 
Save that I love Thee dear 
And love Thee only. 

PRISONER'S SONG 

Thy song, O lark I hear. 
Its tones so sweetly clear, 
Soar upward with Thy flying, 
From this dark dreary earth 
Thou liftest me with mirth 
Through sunlit regions flying. 

[ 76 ] 



But silence reigns once more, 

Thy song indeed is o'er 

For blooming meads Thou'dst languish 

I silent am again 

And sink with cry of pain 

O deep in grief and anguish. 

• PRAYER 

(French of Sully Prud'homme) 

" Si tu saviez? " 

Ah ! If thou knewest how one bewails 
A lonely friendless life — alas ! 
Sometimes before my dwelling 
Thou would'st pass. 



If thou knewest what it means 

When pure regard 

In a sad soul is born 

Thou would'st in my window look 

As if by chance 

Where I do mourn. 
[ 77. ] 



If thou knewest all the balm, a heart 
Can to another heart its sweetness bring 
Thou would'st under my poor door 
As would a sister, sit and sing. 



If thou knewest how I love thee 
How deeply and how dear 
Thou would'st perhaps then enter in 
So quietly, without fear. 



[ 78 ] 



- so 1901 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

015 928 629 



